Author Notes
I have always had a "thing" for raw celery in salad. It has to do with texture - the crunchy factor that celery delivers. It lends itself well to so many other flavors. Here, it is paired with lightly sauteed mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and lemon vinaigrette. It makes a nice side at dinner, but it is equally as delicious with a slice of baguette for lunch.
—Waverly
Test Kitchen Notes
WHO: Waverly, a lawyer-turned-full-time-mom, wholesome meal advocate and all around super home cook!
WHAT: A delicate yet satisfying salad of celery and mushroom.
HOW: Just a little slicing and squeezing and in almost no time, you're looking at one beautiful dish.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Earthy sauteed mushrooms and parmesan pack a lovely umami punch, bringing perfect balance to the crunch of the celery and zing of the lemon. We could happily eat this salad every day. —The Editors
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Ingredients
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7 tablespoons
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided
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1 pound
mushrooms, delicate varieties such as cremini, oyster, or shiitake are best, wiped clean as sliced as thin as possible
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2 tablespoons
fresh lemon juice
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8
ribs celery, shaved paper thin (use a mandolin if you have one)
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1 cup
shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese
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sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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1/4 cup
chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley
Directions
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SAUTE THE MUSHROOMS: In a skillet, heat 3 Tbsp olive oil over MEDIUM HIGH heat. When the oil is hot, add the sliced mushrooms and saute until golden brown, 5-6 minutes. Season with a little salt and pepper and then set aside to cool.
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TOSS THE SALAD: In a large serving bowl, whisk the remaining 4 Tbsp olive oil with the lemon juice. Add a little salt and pepper and then taste. Add more oil or lemon juice as you like. Add the celery, cooled mushrooms, cheese, and parsley to the bowl and toss until combined. Season with sea salt and pepper and serve.
Waverly used to be a lawyer and is now a mother 24/7. She has made a commitment to cooking for her family and absolutely loves it even when her family does not. She is teaching them, one meal at a time, to enjoy wholesome homemade food. She abhors processed food but recognizes its insidious nature and accepts the fact that her children will occasionally get some Skittles, Doritos, or the like. Her philosophy and hope is that if she teaches them well at home, they will prefer wholesome healthy foods when they go out into the world without her.
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